Grails
The Burden of Hope
Available on Coke bottle clear wax
Originally released by Neurosis’ Neurot Recordings label in 2003 and 2004, Burden and Redlight together represent “phase one” of the band that would go on to become one of the world’s most acclaimed instrumental/experimental rock outfits. Still considered to be fan favorites of many, these first albums were recorded in a live studio setting with minimal overdubbing, an approach far from the dense psychedelic production of the records that would follow (e.g. Burning Off Impurities, Doomsdayer‘s Holiday). This early material offers an intriguing glimpse of the genre-colliding experiments around the corner, with covers of tunes by Sun City Girls and Richard Thompson, as well as a guest appearance from Steve Mackay (The Stooges).